"Since 1984, we have created exceptional environments in the airport, retail, commercial and leisure sectors. We have worked on hundreds of major international projects, aiming to integrate architecture, interior design and graphic design using the latest technology alongside traditional skills."

WE ARE ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS

Since 1984, we have created exceptional environments in the airport, retail, commercial and leisure sectors. We have worked on hundreds of major international projects, aiming to integrate architecture, interior design and graphic design using the latest technology alongside traditional skills.

MEET THE TEAM

Leading by experience

The Design Solution is led by three highly experienced directors, Robbie Gill, Graeme Johns and Nick Taylor. They are directly engaged
on every airport project, from inception to completion, each contributing their specialist skills to create the optimal solution.

ROBBIE GILL

GRAEME JOHNS

NICK TAYLOR

MEET THE TEAM

Leading by experience

The Design Solution is led by three highly experienced directors Robbie Gill, Graeme Johns and Nick Taylor. They are directly engaged on every airport project, from inception to completion, each contributing their specialist skills to create the optimal solution.

WHERE WE WORK

From Basel to Bangkok, from Malta to Moscow, from Singapore to Sydney… 55 countries, 125 Airports, 149 Terminals, 331 Projects, 2.5 billion passengers and still counting…

SOME OF OUR CLIENTS

SOME OF OUR CLIENTS

FEASIBILITY STUDIES

We are highly experienced at delivering inputs into airport projects when we are employed at inception with other architectural and engineering teams. Often our work will help shape the format of the project through the critical early development stages. This is true for new terminals, extensions to existing terminals or the internal reconfiguration of existing buildings. We have collaborated successfully with all the major architectural and engineering groups in the aviation sector.

TERMINAL COMMERCIAL PLANNING

The commercial success of any airport terminal is totally reliant on locating the right amount of space in the right place. We consider a myriad of factors from passenger flows and visibility to unit sizes and configurations. Whether a new terminal, an extension or simply the reconfiguration of an existing terminal, we consider all the options and explore the best in 2D and 3D to reach an optimum solution.

AIRPORT ENVIRONMENT DESIGN

The longer we can encourage passengers to remain in the main commercial area, the more chance we have to persuade them to visit the shops, bars and restaurants. The environment plays an important part in achieving this and is an even greater factor in delivering a tremendous visitor experience. Creating a unique sense of place allied to innovative and quality materials, as well as dynamic seating solutions are all key.

RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS

The design of any shop within the travel retail sector is a delicate balance between the creation of a unique environment and the pragmatic need to display merchandise. Duty free shops are the most important commercial component of any airport and their planning & environmental design are key to their success. Specialist retail units also need to deliver a special experience to captivate passing traffic.

We have a vast experience of designing every manner of furniture from wall bays to gondolas, till point to specialist displays. We balance the need to achieve an appropriate stock density with showcasing the product and increasingly using digital displays to promote the brand. Having worked with the world’s leading shop fitters, we know how to deliver the best quality at an affordable price.

3D VISUALISATION, ANIMATION AND VIRTUAL REALITY

We have one of the most experienced team of specialists that produce the most photo realistic images in the world. Over the years, we have built up a library of thousands of duty free products and we enhance it with new merchandise from every new country we work in. We are continually developing new products such as our own app to allow our clients to view their projects through Samsung Gear VR goggles.

BRAND EXPERIENCE

We deliver the most creative solutions for brands to provide unique and relevant experiences to their customers. In order to maximise their potential, they must stand out from their competitors and our job is to distil the key aspects of their brand and through design, materials and technology, attract shoppers to their products.

LIGHTING DESIGN

We envision great lighting experience that give passengers a dynamic and varied experience whether in the daytime or at night. If it is a terminal, the lighting plays an important part in changing the character of the commercial area. When it comes to shops, the same applies but the product is the key and that is the focus. We work alongside specialist lighting designers to specify the latest, most effective and low energy sources to achieve our vision.

AUGMENTED REALITY & VIRTUAL REALITY

Virtual Reality is fast becoming an integral part in the design industry and The Design Solution has welcomed it. Our experienced team has a demonstrated history of using VR on various platforms, from virtual 360 tours to game walkthroughs. Our extensive 3D library has allowed us to populate our environments, enhancing the realism, thus resulting in a truly unique experience for our clients.

GRAPHIC DESIGN & COMMUNICATION

Our graphic design team uses its skills for a wide variety of applications. We deliver high quality tender submissions, retail branding, brochures and leaflets linked to our many 3D projects and innovative promotional solutions for our clients. The graphic approach to our 3D work is also an important component of delivering the most impactful presentations.

BRAND GUIDELINES AND APPROVALS

The brands within both the duty free and the multi-category environment are a fundamental part of the overall atmosphere and character of our shops. Having set the opportunity for the world’s leading brands in the design of the shops, we encapsulate this in a guideline manual. With the brands having designed their displays, we scrutinise their submissions to ensure that they can be successfully and beautifully implemented.

TENANT HANDBOOKS & APPROVALS

When working with airports to deliver the best shopping environment for passengers, it is usual for the elevations to be dominated by local, national and international retailers as well as a wide variety of food & beverage operators. We are experienced experts at setting up and helping manage the systems that will encourage and deliver the finest commercial design from incoming concessionaires. We produce tenants design handbooks often followed by an approvals’ process where we review the designs at various stages during their design process. Our portfolio includes the seminal terminal 5 at Heathrow, which set the International benchmark for collective concessionaire design.

BRAND INSIGHT & STRATEGY

Everyday we have to demonstrate our understanding of, and our empathy with, major brands. In order to present brands in an environment where we can create the setting for their values, character and nuances to be conveyed accurately we need to be Branding Experts.

We know that a brand is a collection of product features, positioning qualities and emotional values. It does not exist in a physical sense, it exists in customers’ minds. A brand is like a person, it has to have its own sense of identity. It should be unique as well as distinctive and have inherent values. Those values should welcome you just like the friendly smile of a person you know… and trust. A brand’s personality should be familiar and highly individual, like an old friend you feel comfortable with.

ROBBIE GILL

Managing Director RIBA

Since founding The Design Solution in 1985 Robbie has developed the company into the world’s leading airport retail design specialists, creating some of the most commercially effective and appealing retail spaces in the industry. That breath of experience incorporates almost every aspect of the retail sector, giving The Design Solution a unique, holistic perception of the best way to utilise retail space and reach the target customer.

By blending commercial awareness and management skills with creative originality in design, Robbie’s approach has enabled clients to optimise their space, driving higher levels of commercial performance and passenger satisfaction.

“As pivotal designers right at the very start of the airport retail revolution in the 1980s, we have developed a unique perception of the sector and its needs – whatever the size of airport, wherever the location and passenger profile, we know what works.”

GRAEME JOHNS

Director of Planning

With over 30 years’ design and architectural experience, ranging from major shopping malls to flagship airport terminals, Graeme brings exceptional vision to The Design Solution, which he joined in 1985. Injecting his specialist input into all The Design Solution’s planning projects, Graeme was instrumental in the retention of our status as framework suppliers to BAA and, latterly, Heathrow Airport. Uniquely, Graeme has overseen major build projects at all three main London airports: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Throughout his career, Graeme has developed a particularly strong understanding of the psychology of passenger behaviour and integrates this awareness into each design location.

“To think ‘outside the box’, a common goal, we have to understand ‘in the box’ first and what that means and how you can optimise it. Once you establish the best ‘in the box’ thinking then you can test it ‘outside the box’ and push to the next level. I like to think we were fundamental in establishing the rules and have also proceeded to break them in a structured manner. Each new project offers a unique challenge and opportunity that we can capitalise on.”

NICK TAYLOR

Director of Design

With 20 years’ experience specialising in store design, Nick’s role at The Design Solution’s is that of creative spearhead for all store design projects. Throughout his career Nick has been fascinated by the way people shop and he enjoys exploring new ways to design a human connection within the environment to positively influence mood, and ultimately convert passengers into customers. Through his additional experience of working directly with retailers and brands, Nick also brings a sharp awareness of how to deliver their needs by fully integrating the client’s perspective into his design work.

“I enjoy being hands-on in my work whenever I can, and I think it’s always important to listen to the design experience of my team. What makes me tick is accomplishing or learning something new each day – it doesn’t matter how small.”

NICK TAYLOR

Director of Design

With 20 years’ experience specialising in store design, Nick’s role at The Design Solution’s is that of creative spearhead for all store design projects. Throughout his career Nick has been fascinated by the way people shop and he enjoys exploring new ways to design a human connection within the environment to positively influence mood, and ultimately convert passengers into customers. Through his additional experience of working directly with retailers and brands, Nick also brings a sharp awareness of how to deliver their needs by fully integrating the client’s perspective into his design work.

“I enjoy being hands-on in my work whenever I can, and I think it’s always important to listen to the design experience of my team. What makes me tick is accomplishing or learning something new each day – it doesn’t matter how small.”

GRAEME JOHNS

Director of Planning

With over 30 years’ design and architectural experience, ranging from major shopping malls to flagship airport terminals, Graeme brings exceptional vision to The Design Solution, which he joined in 1985. Injecting his specialist input into all The Design Solution’s planning projects, Graeme was instrumental in the retention of our status as framework suppliers to BAA and, latterly, Heathrow Airport. Uniquely, Graeme has overseen major build projects at all three main London airports: Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted. Throughout his career, Graeme has developed a particularly strong understanding of the psychology of passenger behaviour and integrates this awareness into each design location.

“To think ‘outside the box’, a common goal, we have to understand ‘in the box’ first and what that means and how you can optimise it. Once you establish the best ‘in the box’ thinking then you can test it ‘outside the box’ and push to the next level. I like to think we were fundamental in establishing the rules and have also proceeded to break them in a structured manner. Each new project offers a unique challenge and opportunity that we can capitalise on.”

ROBBIE GILL

Managing Director RIBA

Since founding The Design Solution in 1984 Robbie has developed the company into the world’s leading airport retail design specialists, creating some of the most commercially effective and appealing retail spaces in the industry. That breath of experience incorporates almost every aspect of the retail sector, giving The Design Solution a unique, holistic perception of the best way to utilise retail space and reach the target customer.

By blending commercial awareness and management skills with creative originality in design, Robbie’s approach has enabled clients to optimise their space, driving higher levels of commercial performance and passenger satisfaction.

“As pivotal designers right at the very start of the airport retail revolution in the 1980s, we have developed a unique perception of the sector and its needs – whatever the size of airport, wherever the location and passenger profile, we know what works.”